Imply
/ɪmˈplaɪ/
Definitions
2 meaningsTo suggest or hint at something without stating it directly.
/ɪmˈplaɪ/
To strongly suggest the truth or existence of (something not expressly stated).
Her tone implied she was unhappy.
💡 Simply: Imagine you roll your eyes when your friend says they're going to study. You're not saying they *won't* study, but your eye roll *implies* you don't believe them!
👶 For kids: To kind of say something without really saying it.
More Examples
The data implies a significant trend.
By not responding, he implied his disapproval.
How It's Used
"His silence implied agreement."
"The contract implies an understanding of the terms."
To have something as a logical or necessary consequence.
/ɪmˈplaɪ/
To involve or indicate something as a necessary consequence.
A fever implies that the body is fighting an infection.
💡 Simply: If you get a good grade on a test, it *implies* that you studied hard. One thing leads to another.
👶 For kids: To mean something that is a cause of something else.
More Examples
Hard work implies success.
The fact that the door was unlocked implied that someone had entered.
How It's Used
"If A implies B, then if A is true, B must be true."
"The formula implies a specific result."
Idioms & expressions
to imply something by omission
To suggest something by not doing or saying something.
"By refusing to comment, the company implied something by omission about its future plans."
From Middle English *implien*, from Old French *emplier* ("to involve, entangle, imply"), from Latin *implicare* ("to involve, entangle, enfold").
In older texts, *imply* sometimes had a more general sense of 'to involve' or 'to enfold', closer to the root meaning of the word.
Memory tip
Think of *imply* as a hidden message. You're hinting at something without saying it outright.
Word Origin
"to involve, entangle, enfold"